I got to do the Kerrville Newfolk Songwriting Contest back in ‘98, same year as Dave Carter. An amazing experience. I never imagined I’d be famous, and I didn’t want that traveling lifestyle; I was living on top of a mountain off the grid in western Oregon and raising a couple kids with my wife up til then, and that is what was important to me. But all those great musicians and songs were such a treat, and to be considered worthy of that stage was a special feeling. I sang my two songs as well as I ever had. Then the campfires were great, and hearing all those other songs and realizing mine had been chosen for that stage made me feel really honored. I came back to my work as a City Planner, from which I retired in 2009. Here it is 28 years later, and I just won a California Music Video Award. The old man in the room at 79, as I was the old man in that Kerrville contest at 51. Life is such a treat. Again, I love these missives as I’ve loved your songs- some as good as it gets.
I now know why I love you! You sat in the same room with Townes Van Zant. I wish I had appreciated him when he was alive. One of the great regrets of my life.
I appreciate you, Mr Byrd. Your words entertain, challenge, and embrace me. I am happy you’re killing it with your new gig, but I sure miss your on stage magic.
I was a Townes fan in a place - the Pacific Northwest - where no one had ever heard of him.
Then, late in life, I moved to Nashville for a job. EVERYBODY in Nashville knew him! Not just heard of him, they had KNOWN him (this was after his untimely demise).
I was relating this to a guy at a recording studio one day (I was there to look at a printer) and he just matter-of-factly said, "Oh yeah, I knew Townes."
Guy Clark told Rodney Crowell “You can be an artist, or you can be a pop star, but you cant be both” That may not be verbatim, but he made his point and Rodney, thankfully, chose “ARTIST” His music and Guy’s changed so much in my life. “The Houston Kid” album unleashed alot of buried pain and helped me get on with living. Texas songwriting is top drawer, imo.
I found your words, coincidentally, on substack, but I think I'm heading straight to Spotify. One day, I think I need to visit that 18 day festival too! Great piece thank you!
No, he wouldn't take the money. Townes never gave a damn about money. Sometimes after getting paid in cash for a gig, he burned it, gave it to a waitress, or tossed it out the car window on the way to the motel.
As a young songwriter living in Texas, Live at the Old Quarter was my gateway album/drug. I learned a bunch of those songs. Mr Mudd and Mr Gold is the best poker song ever. Lungs was the song that made me wonder, can I write one with the same feel? I came up with Cut You Free, which my band No Worries still plays, along with Pancho and Lefty. I got to see and hear Townes from time to time, including in Kerrville in the 80s and 90s. Fortunately he wasn't too drunk to play at any of those gigs.
He was a primary songwriting role model for me (along with John Prine and a few others). to be clear, he was no life role model, committing slow suicide by fire water. But the art, the poetry, that came of out of that suffering! I call Townes the Vincent Van Gogh of songwriting (and Cheryl Wheeler is the female version of Townes IMO.) When he died, he haunted me for years ... no other verb seemed to fit.
He was the quintessential Texas songwriter, back when Austin was the center of the action. Willie Nelson, Guy Clark, Jerry Jeff Walker, Ray Wiley Hubbard, Lyle Lovett, Nanci Griffith, Robert Earl Keen .... Those were the days, my friend.
I first saw you at one of those Unitarian basement performances. At that time you were a regular and I was a brand new volunteer. The following year, it was after you'd written Coyote. You used that song for sound check (and performed it in the second set) and I think it is my favorite of all your songs. (I quote it on my LJ page.). Townes wouldn't have been appreciated in that room. That first song you quoted - Tecumseh Valley - I had that recording by Bobby Bare. A true writer (like you) understands about words. I discover in my listening that often songs that make the hair on the back of my arms stand up were written by Townes. Sorry to go on like a fan gurrrl....
I think his fearlessness comes across immediately. You’re watching a lyrical daredevil, and he doesn’t land everything perfectly, but he gets right back up and tries something even crazier. It does make the hair stand up.
It’s been on my to-do list for years, since long before I even really started writing again. I don’t know when I’ll be able to make it happen — I’ve said “maybe next year” too many times — but I sure would love it if our stars aligned over Kerrville.
I got to do the Kerrville Newfolk Songwriting Contest back in ‘98, same year as Dave Carter. An amazing experience. I never imagined I’d be famous, and I didn’t want that traveling lifestyle; I was living on top of a mountain off the grid in western Oregon and raising a couple kids with my wife up til then, and that is what was important to me. But all those great musicians and songs were such a treat, and to be considered worthy of that stage was a special feeling. I sang my two songs as well as I ever had. Then the campfires were great, and hearing all those other songs and realizing mine had been chosen for that stage made me feel really honored. I came back to my work as a City Planner, from which I retired in 2009. Here it is 28 years later, and I just won a California Music Video Award. The old man in the room at 79, as I was the old man in that Kerrville contest at 51. Life is such a treat. Again, I love these missives as I’ve loved your songs- some as good as it gets.
Great stories, Fred!
I now know why I love you! You sat in the same room with Townes Van Zant. I wish I had appreciated him when he was alive. One of the great regrets of my life.
I wish I had appreciated him that night.
I appreciate you, Mr Byrd. Your words entertain, challenge, and embrace me. I am happy you’re killing it with your new gig, but I sure miss your on stage magic.
I miss it sometimes too.
Two of my favorite song writers (one from Oklahoma, one from Maine(but calls Texas home)) Dave Carter and Slaid Cleaves.
Great ones.
Love that. Love him
I was a Townes fan in a place - the Pacific Northwest - where no one had ever heard of him.
Then, late in life, I moved to Nashville for a job. EVERYBODY in Nashville knew him! Not just heard of him, they had KNOWN him (this was after his untimely demise).
I was relating this to a guy at a recording studio one day (I was there to look at a printer) and he just matter-of-factly said, "Oh yeah, I knew Townes."
What a town!
Guy Clark told Rodney Crowell “You can be an artist, or you can be a pop star, but you cant be both” That may not be verbatim, but he made his point and Rodney, thankfully, chose “ARTIST” His music and Guy’s changed so much in my life. “The Houston Kid” album unleashed alot of buried pain and helped me get on with living. Texas songwriting is top drawer, imo.
TVZ was a product of the upper-middle-class too. I saw a lot of that influence in him as well because I knew and fled that world too.
Tremendous.
I found your words, coincidentally, on substack, but I think I'm heading straight to Spotify. One day, I think I need to visit that 18 day festival too! Great piece thank you!
Thank you, Sylvie. I can’t recommend Kerrville enough. I hope you enjoy my music, too.
Oh. My. I really did love it 😁
That makes me happy. Thanks for listening, Sylvie.
It was a good day for music all round, having made my own musical dedication to my Dad, I started with Father's day...
No, he wouldn't take the money. Townes never gave a damn about money. Sometimes after getting paid in cash for a gig, he burned it, gave it to a waitress, or tossed it out the car window on the way to the motel.
As a young songwriter living in Texas, Live at the Old Quarter was my gateway album/drug. I learned a bunch of those songs. Mr Mudd and Mr Gold is the best poker song ever. Lungs was the song that made me wonder, can I write one with the same feel? I came up with Cut You Free, which my band No Worries still plays, along with Pancho and Lefty. I got to see and hear Townes from time to time, including in Kerrville in the 80s and 90s. Fortunately he wasn't too drunk to play at any of those gigs.
He was a primary songwriting role model for me (along with John Prine and a few others). to be clear, he was no life role model, committing slow suicide by fire water. But the art, the poetry, that came of out of that suffering! I call Townes the Vincent Van Gogh of songwriting (and Cheryl Wheeler is the female version of Townes IMO.) When he died, he haunted me for years ... no other verb seemed to fit.
He was the quintessential Texas songwriter, back when Austin was the center of the action. Willie Nelson, Guy Clark, Jerry Jeff Walker, Ray Wiley Hubbard, Lyle Lovett, Nanci Griffith, Robert Earl Keen .... Those were the days, my friend.
noworriesnc.bandcamp.com/track/cut-you-free
my cover of Mr Mudd and Mr Gold
https://youtu.be/uF47r7npjYM?si=fyLYHdJudVmYax4j
I first saw you at one of those Unitarian basement performances. At that time you were a regular and I was a brand new volunteer. The following year, it was after you'd written Coyote. You used that song for sound check (and performed it in the second set) and I think it is my favorite of all your songs. (I quote it on my LJ page.). Townes wouldn't have been appreciated in that room. That first song you quoted - Tecumseh Valley - I had that recording by Bobby Bare. A true writer (like you) understands about words. I discover in my listening that often songs that make the hair on the back of my arms stand up were written by Townes. Sorry to go on like a fan gurrrl....
I think his fearlessness comes across immediately. You’re watching a lyrical daredevil, and he doesn’t land everything perfectly, but he gets right back up and tries something even crazier. It does make the hair stand up.
Your songs are gold, you write beyond just text on a page, the story is not lost on me, always your fan, Bill Staton,
Thank you Bill.
It’s been on my to-do list for years, since long before I even really started writing again. I don’t know when I’ll be able to make it happen — I’ve said “maybe next year” too many times — but I sure would love it if our stars aligned over Kerrville.
I hope I make it back someday. It’s a little too much to ask right now.
Thank you.
You’re welcome. Miss you and Texas.